White Pigeon in St. Joseph County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Chief Wahbememe Burial Site
Photographed By Dave Zollinger, August 19, 2011
1. Chief Wahbememe Burial Site Marker
Side 1
Potawatomi Chief Wahbememe (White Pigeon) was a signer of the 1795 Treaty of Greenville, which placed Michigan Great Lakes forts in U.S. hands. The chief was known as a friend to the white settlers in Michigan. According to legend, while attending a gathering of chiefs in Detroit, Wahbememe heard of a plot to attack the settlement that became known as White Pigeon. The story states that he immediately set out on foot, running nearly 150 miles across the state without stopping for food or rest to alert the village. After warning of the impending danger, he collapsed from exhaustion and soon died. His remains are buried on this site, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Side 2
In 1909 members of the Alba Columba Club, a White Pigeon women's group, raised funds and community support to create this monument to Chief Wahbememe (White Pigeon). The owner of the burial site, John Weaver, with the help of his sons and neighbors, loaded the granite boulder onto a wagon at the Edison M. Rockwell farm in Porter Township, Cass County. Four horses pulled it ten miles to this site. On August 10, 1909, a day-long celebration marked the occasion of the dedication of Wahbememe's memorial. Four thousand people, including Lieutenant Governor Patrick H. Kelley watched as Chief Wahbememe's great-great-grandson,
this page online
Erected 2000 by Michigan Historial Center, Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number L1521.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1795.
Location. 41° 47.853′ N, 85° 39.773′ W. Marker is in White Pigeon, Michigan, in St. Joseph County. Marker is at the intersection of U.S. 131 and U.S. 12, on the left when traveling north on U.S. 131. The marker is in Wahbememe Park, located at the northwest corner of the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: White Pigeon MI 49099, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. White Pigeon Fallen Soldiers Memorial (a few steps from this marker); In Memory of Wahbememe (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S. Land Survey Office (approx. one mile away); Conveying Michigan (approx. one mile away); Constantine Civil War Monument (approx. 2.8 miles away); Heywood House (approx. 3 miles away); Constantine Tribute to Veterans of All Wars (approx. 3 miles away); Constantine United Methodist Church (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in White Pigeon.
More about this marker.
Photographed By Dave Zollinger, April 21, 2012
2. Chief Wahbememe Burial Site Marker
Flags flown on the flagpole at the park are given in memory of 1LT Jonathan W. Edds, who was killed in Iraq. A memorial stone at the foot of the flagpole, also clearly visible from the marker, denotes this fact.
Also see . . . White Pigeon, MI at Wikipedia. Page mentions Chief Wahbememe (Submitted on September 15, 2011, by Dave Zollinger of Goshen, Indiana.)
Photographed By Dave Zollinger, August 19, 2011
3. Chief Wahbememe Burial Site Marker
Wahbememe Park as viewed looking northwest form the intersection of US 131 and US 12. Both the marker and the stone marker can be seen in this view.
Photographed By Joel Seewald, May 14, 2017
4. Chief Wahbememe Burial Site Marker
The brown park sign has been replaced by this stone sign.
Photographed By Dave Zollinger, August 19, 2011
5. Chief Wahbememe Burial Site Marker
Stone marker at burial site
Photographed By Dave Zollinger, August 19, 2011
6. Chief Wahbememe Burial Site Marker
Stone marker at burial site.
Photographed By Dave Zollinger, August 19, 2011
7. Chief Wahbememe Burial Site Marker
Marker honoring Lt. Edds at base of flagpole.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2017. It was originally submitted on September 15, 2011, by Dave Zollinger of Goshen, Indiana. This page has been viewed 1,060 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 15, 2011, by Dave Zollinger of Goshen, Indiana. 2. submitted on April 22, 2012, by Dave Zollinger of Goshen, Indiana. 3. submitted on September 15, 2011, by Dave Zollinger of Goshen, Indiana. 4. submitted on May 17, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 5, 6, 7. submitted on September 15, 2011, by Dave Zollinger of Goshen, Indiana. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
